About two years ago, I put up a poll here asking readers how often they change their mobile phones and based on the feedback, it seems like 9 months is the median. That time there were very few selection of smartphones unlike today.
With smartphones coming in from entry-level to high-end models, the focus has changed from the hardware to the operating system and the apps that go along with it.
So we could be seeing mobile phone users keeping their smartphones longer than usual. With powerful phones, users can now stick their their handsets much longer (probably 18 months to 24 months which is usually the lock-up period) compared to the time they were just using feature-phones.
Let’s see a show of hands — those of who have been using smartphones (iOS, Android WebOS, etc.), how long have you been using them or when do you plan to eventually replace them?
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Charli3 says:
I see my N8 with me for two years. SLR-like camera, great music/video player and decent symbian apps all in a cellphone device is what I only need.
Fleeb says:
I might replace my smartphone next year, if not the second half of this year. My goal is to keep it for at least 18 months. I do not find it practical to change phones every 8 months unless I get filthy rich that I would tend to do so if I want to keep up with what’s in :D
ogago says:
used to replace my mobile phone from time to time, but now that i have my netbook and tablet, im getting bored of the features of smartphones. will stick to my samsung as long as long as its working or unless a feature will be available that my netbook or tablet can’t have.
btw, yugatech used to be cool, featured lots of nice gadgets and i was checking this website almost eveday. but now its just some trivial stuff and polls, been barely visiting your site because of the decreasing number of entries and increasing uninteresting and non sense posts. i think you have to do something to extend your website’s lifecycle. nothing against sir abe, just a constructive criticism.
Suplado says:
papalitan ko lang hd7 ko kung meron nang mas angat na htc windows phone. :D
eRvN says:
So far i’m contented with my nokia e72 and don’t see it being replaced very soon. It gets the job done and is already a big “upgrade” from my previous phone – lg ku250.
Ernest says:
I’m pretty happy with my Nexus One. I bought it June 2010. I don’t see myself replacing this until dual core phones in the 1.2-1.5GHz range has become standard. It will also be likely another “Google Experience” device if another one comes out. At the current pace, that could be late this year or early 2012.
riccillego says:
January last year when i bought a nokia 5630 to replace a pre-loved N95 8GIG which served me one ‘n a half years because i wanted a thin and small smartphone. Four months later i bought an HTC HD2 since i’ve long been wanting to own a touch screen smartphone. I used the phone mainly for mobile internet and some “unli-calls”. Come December, i bought an LG Optimus One to gratify my craving for Android! Although my sister handed down to me her Iphone 3G just a month earlier. Seems that Iphone isnt my cup of tea. Before the year ended, I got to swap my Winmo with a Galaxy Tab. I also got to swap my Iphone for a Samsung Wave just last Thursday. You know, Super Amoled and 720p video capture have been keepin’ me droolin’ all these months! So far, so good, except Bada of course! And now what? I’m waiting and lusting for a dual-core beast. It has to have Super Amoled Plus, 1Gig of Ram,12MP camera, and 1080p video capture capability.
oktnxbai says:
Totally love my Nexus S. Will replace it for another ‘Nexus’ Google flagship phone when it comes.
tantra2gadget says:
When the nokia meego powered smartphone arrives i will change my mobile
Right now im contented to use my n95 classic and s40v5 c3 for browsing mobileweb
apple fan boy says:
i change my smartphone whenever a new iPhone comes out. been doing this since the first generation was released :)
wh@ says:
1 and 1/2 years. Thats how long before i changed my phone. Im using samsung star b4 and last year dec13. i’ve bought nokia c6 during der chaotic sale. mswerte lang po at nkabili sa sm north edsa.
tebenets says:
just upgraded from symbian to android (e71 to LG Optimus Gt540). may or may not upgrade the lg (to htc wildfire) by end of the year.
i may also consider the new iphone by end of the year (for my loyalty reward from Globe).
tebenets says:
been thinking of getting a cheap blackberry phone (pearl series). will be used primarily as a work phone.
iamspikee says:
I am still using my nokia 3230 (symbian s60)which my wife gave last 2007. i’m planning on getting a high end android phone on my birthday this year (htc desireHD? Nexus S?)
Mat says:
I’ll keep my DHD as long as the hardware remains relevant. I think 2 years would be a good marker.
NemOry says:
d pa ako familiar sa WebOS.. .sa smartphone ba yun?or sa web browser’s OS?hehe. ,pero wala talaga ako mapili sa dalawang phone ni sir Abe sa picture ang popowerful at laki. Super HD.
michael agda says:
sakin mga 1 year pa ang n8 ko, happy na ako sa n8 ko.
wakocoke says:
bought my E63 last January 2009 and i replaced it with Desire recently. 2013 perhaps? a 4.5in dual core HTC phone!
Hebron says:
Next month I’ll replace my Nokia N3310 with Motorola Atrix! The best!!!!
Benchmark33 says:
To me… Does Samsung Star included in the smart phones? When it was first released here in the Philippines, I bought one for myself. And never replaced it ever since. I’m planning to buy a wifi enabled phone, but I don’t see if it good in reading ebooks…perhaps I would settle for a tablet pc and stick to my beloved Samsung Star. :-)
zaldy says:
For me, 2 years. I just bought Se K770i last 2009, then this year i stick to SE xperia X8.
Randolf says:
Im planning to keep my android for two years or up to 3/4 kung good condition pa rin. unless ma snatch. haha.
zer0ice says:
My friends and family have known me to buy new phones almost every year..
2010 – Android – Samsung Galaxy S (Smartphone)
2009 – WinMo – Samsung Omnia (Smartphone)
2008 – Symbian – Nseries – N82
2007 – Symbian – Nseries – N80
2006 downwards, I have always bought Symbian phones..
I’ve thought about this again and again. Should I buy a new (smart)phone this year, 2011?
I said not. I thought, I might buy a new one early 2012 to mid-2012, or probably when that time comes whendual-core smartphones have become the “norm”.
I’m loving my Galaxy S! And if ever I’m going to buy the successor of the Galaxy S, I’m going to wait and read all the reviews, only then would I buy a new one! :-)
jdm says:
i usually replace my phone every 3 years. now less than a year. balik 3 years na ulet.
android!
nameless says:
Im still a windows mobile 6 user.. been using it for 4 years. Windows mobile 6 have the same features. some do have an eye candy, but the core features are just the same…
some people would just like to brag about their new phone. But it just have the same features. it just shows their immaturity and ignorance to maximize the full capabilities of their phones. anyway, it’s not my problem anymore, as long as they have their money to buy a new one, then go on!
peace.
tama eh! says:
i like this:
“…increasing uninteresting and non sense posts….”
mas mahal na kase ang telepono ngayon…
Pao says:
I’m contented with my BB9700. I’ve been using it for 6 mos. already and I’ll probably use it for another 18 mos.
BertSingson says:
“ogago replied on Jan 31st, 2011 at 7:15 pm (3)
btw, yugatech used to be cool, featured lots of nice gadgets and i was checking this website almost eveday. but now its just some trivial stuff and polls, been barely visiting your site because of the decreasing number of entries and increasing uninteresting and non sense posts. i think you have to do something to extend your website’s lifecycle. nothing against sir abe, just a constructive criticism.”
I agree, with you. I used to bookmark yugatech, not anymore. Now, I go to TechPinas for more featured gadgets. Sir Abe, pls. bring back your interesting posts. Peace.
Jeric says:
Usually I change phone every 2 years. I’m not that rich enough to change every time there is a new model coming out. The longest I’ve used was my w800, around 4years.
I find it impractical too esp. I mostly use my phone for call/text and music/web thru ipod touch. My current phone (SE c510) will be 2 years this November, I guess thats the time I will change again.
They are not smartphones but they get the job done.
geb0i says:
I dont see any reason for changing my phone for the next two years. Maybe on the 3rd year I’ll might change from Symbian to Meego. I’m still happy and contented in the HD features of my N8. It is still one month old. :D
iamdoods says:
Been using my iPhone 3Gs for a year now and got a Galaxy Tab last December. I don’t think it’s practical to get more or change my phone. Though I’ve been planning to change my Tab to iPad because Android and iOS don’t have the same functions and it’s confusing.
Tristan Khalil Singkala says:
I don’t think my myphone T23 Duo is a smartphone but for me it is already a smartphone being able to do just what I need in a phone. Touchscreen, dual sim, Internet ready, music and fm player, video player, etc. I’m satisfied with it so I’ll stick to in unless I’ll be a lucky winner in some online contest giving away iPhones or Android phones. XD
ithons26 says:
as long as hindi pa sira and gumagana yung phone di kaagad ako nagpapalit. my nokia n80 lasted for 3 years although 3 times ako nagpalit ng flex, bago ako nagpalit. now im using htc wildfire. :)
garz says:
Sir Abe, may realease date na po ba yung Atrix? I’m excited to get one! :)
1GHz Dual-core NVidia Tegra 2 CPU with 1 Gb RAM will make it a rig in the form of a smartphone. That’s a beast!
SlighMD says:
Currently have a windows phone, HTC Trophy. Might replace this when the 2nd gen Windows phone devices become available but only if the OS takes off
garz says:
Nokia should come up with a better OS, processor and batteries these days. They’re losing the battle.
Jepoi says:
Got my nexus one June of last year – i dont see me anytime soon dumping it for another phone really, what more with the OTA updates I get, it being a google experience phone. i junked my month old BB curve 8520 a week ago and upgraded with the Bold 9780. As long as Google and RIM continues to provide upgrades, i think ill be sticking with these two for a pretty good amount of time.
Messie says:
After being contented with my SE P990i for 2 years, I changed my phone and bought a SE Xperia X1. After three months, I got so disappointed that I sold my X1 and got myself the newly released (at that time) Blackberry Curve 8520. After almost a year, I am still on it. Good thing with blackberry is that you won’t be buying it for the apps. It’s biggest plus, “connectivity and multi platform communication” is the same for all it’s models. A new OS adds only a few additions to the old one and it is not enough to entice you to buy the newest model just to experience it.
Since I have been craving for a portable multimedia entertainment system, I might just buy the newest Ipod touch (rumored to have 3d support) when it comes out. Nevertheless, I will be sticking with my Blackberry as my phone.
PS: The new blackberries are looking good though, the Torch 2 and that Bold BB with touch screen and qwerty might be worth a look when it comes out this year. =D
Michael Brown says:
Just bought a Samsung Android based device. Well, it’s nice, what can I say… but battery autonomy is the major problem. I’ll change it very soon because of that.
walang imik says:
ive been using bb 9700 for 6 months, and im planning to replace it with htc desire hd,
jacen29 says:
Been Using my iphone for about 3 months already and since im in the lock in period of 2 years for sure thats only the time i’ll change it.. So Looking forward for iPhone 6 hahahahahah!!!
aira says:
papalitan ko iphone4 ko pag labas ng iphone5
Robin says:
If anything, I think the lifespan got shorter. I used to keep phones for two years… now it looks like the product life cycle is six months.
Patricia says:
I always change phones every 2 years since 2001. Except when I lost one in 2009. It became 9 months. Because that was the time phones were very dispensable to everyone, even students. And it was kind of cheap to switch from one unit to another.
My current phone is a Blackberry and it’s more than 6months now. I’m sticking to smartphones now that I’m no longer a student. I’m just waiting til 2012 when Globe gives me my new phone for line retention. Bwahahaha!
Ajjie says:
Been a Nokia user ever since and the usual shelf life of my phones range from 12-24 months. I bet my N8 will stay with me for a couple of years…
icarus says:
4 months… Planning to replace this when graduated (around 2 years).
rikou says:
im loking processor architecture first… lyk now thy have a transition to 28nm from 45/40 nm. u think f 28nm will out n last quarter all phone made now it can last til 3yrs even dualcore base on specs. i think not. second d ram must be 1gig. N8 s r.i.p nxt year processor s too slow. good thing n N8 hav a gorilla screen n 12mp camera. f price of n8 below 15k s reasonable to buy.
rikou says:
oh i forgot im x10 user even arc s successor of x10 hav a good camera style. hind q paren cia buy why? im waiting 28nm processor… so my phne it can last 3yrs.
lawrence m. says:
Been using my Desire HD for a month now. Maybe I’ll change this after 1 1/2 year or maybe after 2 years. Cant afford to buy a phone after 8 months because I’m planning to buy the Sony NGP aka “PSP2” when it comes out.
pabs says:
My first cellphone in 1997 was a motorola microtac, after a year I got JV(a smart billcrusher) in 1998, then an ericcsson in 1999 and then a nokia 3210 also in 1999, a nokia 3310 in 2000, nokia 6510 in 2001, nokia 6550 in 2002, nokia 2100 in 2003, nokia 3230 in 2005, nokia 5700 in 2007 and last is nokia 5800 in 2009, which i still use today and since I have a pc and a laptop, it keeps good company. I will replace it when it finally wears out which I think is still good for a year or two. I like an iphone to do that.
marco says:
been using samsung i8910 hd for 15 months and it still good as it was when i first bought. 3 months pa lng sa akin eh i voided na my warranty just to keep up with the mods that a certain german whiz has made (andy of hxcustomroms)… i have tried all his mods for i8910 and mind you, its the best ive ever had.. he fixed all the issues with i8910 like phone torch, kinetic scrolling, and the latest one he did was to overclock the cpu from 600mhz to 900mhz.. and for me it really feels much better than iphone 4.. provided that its an amoled screen pa.. and also over it im using SPB MOBILE SHELL which really maximizes the the phone.. 10x ko na din xa nababagsag pero wla pa din xa deperenxa.. my WIFE’s phone is also samsung and 4years na nyang ginagamit..and wla pa din sira whatsoever.. I guess I would patronize samsung coz he have a very durable product..
Christian says:
i’m using Sony Erricson P910i for the past five years . i’m i second year college student now i was thinking for a new smartphone 15-30k budget here,
supernaut says:
will probably replace my huawei adroid if im not happy with the speed anymore if demanded by great apps.at wag sana ulit ako manakawan. :(
trampoline says:
been using my nokia 5510 since 2001 until now. the first ever music player in a mobile which has 64mb internal memory..also it has a qwerty keypad :)) gud for texting
Kinny says:
I have officially gone phone crazy! I now have 4 phones because I love the new ones that come out but am still attached to the old ones. in July 2009 I got the E63 in Blue, xmas 2009 I got the E72 in Topaz brown, july 2010 the 6700 slide in purple and for early valentines 2011 The LG Optimus One P500 in wine red because i wanted a touch screen android..
I now have all local lines in prepaid and the extra i use for roaming abroad with whatever country’s sim card.
stedibaks says:
Android phones for bored & geeky people.
those who are office to home & vice versa people, then re-connect the charger from time to time. not so recommended for outgoing & travelers. after few minutes of tweaking, gps, calls or wifi-ing. batt is already drained out to 20% or lower. darn it’s so impractical for a mobile phone when u’re in need of longer time for calls especially emergencies etc. you should have your car’s battery carried inside your backpack.
vroooom says:
tama nga nkakabadtrip lang ang bilis ng lifecycle ng android batteries. pag nago-outing kme ng barkada hindi talaga advisable mag android phone. unless text lang ng text.
pag panahon ng kalamidad & nauuso ulit brownout walang kwenta android phones hehe..
mas ok pa nga iphone eh at least mas matagal battery.
jombag says:
My first one is Nokia 5110, Highschool Graduation gift ko. Then naging Ericsson T28s, ung maliit na cellphone na may games. Tapos Nokia 3410, then Nokia 6600 na kabibili ko pa lang pinaholdap ko na. After nun Nokia 1110i, then China phone na na pinatos pa din ng holdaper… tapos im happy sa iPhone 3G and Nokia 3120 classic. if ever, baka bumili ako ng Nokia C3 or kahit ung Sambung Punch na lang
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ipv6 says:
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